Family Responsibilities and Discrimination in the Workplace

What are employees and employers to do when family responsibilities and job responsibilities collide? Work-life balance challenges can lead to discrimination on the job, including verbal harassment or being penalized for taking time off for medical appointments. While many may be familiar with the terms race discrimination or sex discrimination, less commonly known is ‘caregiver discrimination’. While there is not a specific federal law prohibiting family responsibilities discrimination, a worker may have protections under the Americans With Disabilities Act or the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) prohibits discrimination or retaliation against employees who have taken FMLA-protected leave. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recommends employers should be aware of, and train managers about, the legal obligations of such situations. There are laws against discrimination; if you are dealing with harassment at work in Missouri, labor lawyers or the Missouri Commission on Human Rights may be able to help. Consider contacting an attorney at the Bullman Law Firm today.

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This is provided as a guide only, and not legal advice. Please contact our firm at 1-800-578-4357 for a no-charge legal consultation for sex harassment, sexual harassment or discrimination.